Our school just started to recycle this year, so now the art room is too.

I decided I am going to look for ways to create art from recycled items. I have been in stores that have many different items that have been hand made from recycled materials,

the most popular the paper purse. Why can’t the kids learn to weave and then create it into something? The site ecoist has all sort of styles of paper purses. Why not have my middle school kids make one? I just have to test out easy instructions. One blog Meggie Cat has a good template. I have done regular paper weaving. Laminated the piece, had the kids trace, cut out and then you have a woven looking bag. Now I want to figure out a good way for kids to actually weave a basket.

Artist trading cards

I have just started this with my middle school students.  I thought the idea was nice but I didn’t think it would be this popular. They have spent 3 weeks creating cards. These cards aren’t rush jobs either.

The lesson I used was I showed two youtube videos and showed one website.

first shown is an artist that uses a trading card as a starting point for her art pieces. she is not speaking English in the beginning but it is a gag she is doing it will turn to English in the first few seconds. The middle school kids loved it!

 

The second is This is My City Calgary a service project video that shows a group that lets the homeless create the miniature art works.

 

The last thing I show is the website www.atcsforall.com

*preview the art pieces before showing the class I haven’t found any inappropriate ones.

I bought precut cards from oriental trading company and through sax art I bought different assortments of cards and paper. But honestly you don’t need the assortment if you already have a junk box of assorted art materials with paper scraps, beads, sparkles etc.

Creating Motion

After a few missed classes due to snow cancellations and holidays I needed a lesson that wrapped a few art terms together, but was simple 1 class lesson for my 2nd grade.  After a lesson about cave art the students created a chalk stencil horses. These came out wonderful and the students learned a little about art history, overlapping, and worked with the stenciling. We also discussed the motion and how it looks like the horses are running in a herd.

 

What art project can I do with snow?

I am thinking of bring snow in for my K and 1st grade and letting them build a snow castle. Now sure if it would work. I have large pans I use for plaster casting. I may test that out today since it is snowing. I also read a Little House in the Prairie Cookbook and read about maple candy they made by pouring onto snow to cool. I then cross searched it and found a recipe where you boil maple syrup and then place it in a crock pot and have the kids spoon it onto shaved ice. I may test that out maybe they could create poured designs? let you know how that works.

Another idea I found I am going to try is from dick blick chocolate molds. I cannot find it online but in the recent catalog they have a lesson using clay to create a chocolate mold. While searching the site they have new video workshops that are worth checking out.

Working with Clay

I have found the best clay Crayola air dry clay it is the best air dry clay I have used. My 7th and 8th grade students have been using it for kick wheel pottery throwing and it is the only air dry clay I have seen that doesn’t crumble when used on the wheel.  Some students has started to sculpt with it and it has held up.

Christmas Bags

One activity I do with all age groups during the week before Christmas break is I let them create gift bags. The classroom teachers and school Christmas gift shops the students usually have a gift so I let them create a bag to put the gift in. Different ages groups use different materials the younger students I let them use the metallic crayola crayons and clip art. Older e lementary kids have the option of using gift wrap in collage, paint and student choice art materials. Middle school students like to do detailed acrylic and watercolor paint.

 

 

What to do with the little ones in art during Christmas, especially if you school district is strict on holiday themes.

Poinsettias are always a great Christmas time art project. Just red, green paint, a little gold glitter and fingers.

This year I have been thinking about non-religious holiday themed art projects. Now my school is religious catholic school and very easy to do pretty much anything. I have done the normal nativity etc. but I have also done Chinese new year, Islamic tile art, and let the students study military paintings from Napoleon to modern Iraq war watercolors. Now that isn’t holiday Christmas but many public school teachers in my area I have talked to just wonder why they can't  do these type of lessons. Everything is very censored. My neighbor who is also an art teacher was worried about letting her students draw spiders during the month of October because it may be to halloweenish. In her art room seasonal seems to be safe fall, winter, spring and summer themed lessons. So I started to brain storm what lessons would be appropriate in that type of administration atmosphere? I started with poinsettias Christmas yet still winter themed. I know I would be be very controversial teaching in her school district.

Another project is cell painting or faux stained glass depending on the lesson and age group. Cell painting is the old style cartooning when animation was created by hand. These examples are created by 1st graders (snowman) 3rd graders (angel and snowflake ornaments) and 7th grade (Saint stained glass) 

These are created by drawing with permanent black marker on overhead transparency plastic then paint using acrylic paint and/or sun catcher paint. Older students can draw their own design and younger students can trace from clip art.

**If anyone goes to the Gettysburg Outlets in PA check out my school Christmas Card my 8th grade class did!